Well swab



Dec. 6, 1927.

T. H. WOBERMIN WELL SWAB Filed Jan. 5, 1927 Mr w Tf E MWM V m mJ M Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

UNITED; s'rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

v THEADOBE H. WOIBIBIIN, x0] WHITTIEB, CALIFORNIA.

wan. swan. I

Application fled-January}, 1m. man in. 158,510.

swab body or mandrel. The provision ot a.

valve port opening of suflicient siz'e'foreflicient-operation of the swab is another. problem, encountered in such devices. A further -des'ideratum is a swab which may be unloaded.

The objects of this invention are first, to provide a swab having'an annulus mounted on a tubular mandrel so it mayhave alimited longitudinal movement and a free rotary movement; second, to provide a swab having a sleeve valve operable by movement of the annulus; third, to provide a swab having an annulus adapted to accommodate itself to the casing upon theupward stroke thereof; and fourth, to provide a :swab which may be unloaded.

These objects, together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which: I

Fig. 1 is an axial section through a complete swab; and Figs. 2, 3,,and 4 are sections as seen on the lines correspondingly numbered in Fig. 1. 1

Referring with more particularity to the drawing, 5 indicates a mandrel of tubular form, there being a bore 6 extending therethrough to an enlarged portion 7. There are laterally extending passages, 8 whlch connect the bore 6 with the outside of the head. Valve ports 9 connect the bore to the outside at the lower end, and the mandrel is externally threaded as indicated b 10 to receive end piece. A tapered threa ed in 11 is provided at the top of the man ml for connection to a swab string. Late'rally.

extending ducts 12 communicate with the bore for the purposeof adm tting fluid to be elevated such' as oil to an annular space around the mandrel, later descrlbed.

An end piece 13 with torpedo shaped point to pass throu the fluid with httle resistance is secure closes the bore at the lower end. Mounted on the-mandrel above the end piece is a shouldered ring 14 supporting a washer 15 to the mandrel "and below the ports 9. Mounted as longitudmally slidable upon the mandrel member 16. It is;provided is a supporting with a cuppe portion to receive an endof the swab rubber. Resting on the shoulder of ring 14 and engaging a shoulder on the supporting member 16, is a compressionspring 17. r

The well swab packing member comprises -a tubular member preferably of rubber of largest external diameter at the'center and ortions 19 and 20. The inclination or pitc of the lower face 19 ishaving two face less than the upper face. There is also a tubular extension or thimble defined by a shoulder 21, the tubular extension being of such dimensions that it will fit within the supporting member 16,-the face of portion 19 of the rubber merging with the external wall of the supporting member as best shown in Fig. 1. .There is a substantially cylindrical bore extending through the annulusor packing member, this bore bein lined bybushing sleeves 22 and 23, whic are spaced from one another so as to form an annular pressure recess 24 at about the center'of the rubber. The ducts 12 register at all times with the space 24 lacingthe latter ,in communication with t e bore of the mandrel.

' Slidably mounted upon the part '5 of the mandrel is an upper supporting member 25 receiving the upper end of the swab rubber and arranged to abut the shoulder 26 on the body. The member 25 is formed with an external shoulder to serve as .a seat for a com ression spring 27.

e construction is such that the swab rubber floats longitudinally and rotatabliy on the mandrel, being supported at the en s by compression springs 1 and 27 t In many swabs which have been constructed, there has been a swivel connection between theswab string and'the mandrel in order to emit the swab to turn and accommodate itself to the casing durin its movement 1nto the casing and when li ed. It is also aparent thatthe swab may be expanded by eing swelled, outwardly. The rubber is pear sha ed being thicker atits lower pordownwardly a sufiicient distance, the sleeve 22 will cover the ports 9 and close the bore 6 from communication with the space below the swab rubber. Normally, the ports, are in the position shown in Fig. 1. In this condition, the swab may be lowered in the casing.

The rubber at its greatest diameter is slightly smaller than the casing in which the swab is to run, permitting it to be easily lowered and eliminating wear on the rubber on the down stroke. Oil which is within the casing is free to pass through ports 9 into the bore 6 and through the ports 8 thereby allowing free movement of the swab downwardly. To exert a lift, the swab is suddenly pulled upwardly. This causes a pressure upon the upper part of the annulus and 'it is moved downwardly upon the mandrel so that sleeve 22 closes ports 9. The pressure of the column of oil above the swab is then exerted and transmitted through the ducts 12 to the space 24, and together with the suction created below and the weight of the column of oil above causes an expansion of the swab rubber and a tight fit against the casing so that the swab is able to perform .its work. In the expansion of the rubber,

the face 19 comes in contact with the well casin and the wear is taken by the rubber at this locality. It will be noted that the portion of the rubber having the greatest amount of stock is at this place in the an nulus. The rubber has a long life. It also will be noted that when the swab rubber together with its supporting member 16 is moved downwardly it will close ports 9 and also seat upon the washer 15, thereby serving as a double seal. The size of the ports 9 may be made as large in cross section as desired by lengthening the mandrel.

An important feature in the operation of the swab is that it may be unloaded, it being possible to make it discharge any or all of the fluid held above it at any desired point in the upward stroke. This may bereadily accomplished by suddenly arresting the upward progress of the swab; this will in effect be a jerk and will cause the annulus to raise, due to its inertia and the floating action of springs 17 and 27 and open ports 9, r-

mitting the fluid to escape. If desired, t ese ports may be closed again as at the beginning of another stroke. Unloading is necessary at such times as the swab picks up a load too heavy for the derrick machinery to raise,

and obviates the danger of leaving the string in the hole. .It is also an advantage when it is desired to surge a well, as it eliminates the necessity of bringing the swab to the.

surface at every stroke, permitting instead a short stroke of possibly one-hundred or two-hundred feet or whatever is desired.

What I claim is:

1. A well swab comprising a body having a tubular mandrel portion, an annulus of resilient material mounted on said mandrel portion so as to be slidable longitudinally and rotatably, said mandrel portion having lateral ports at the lower end so located that said annulus may be moved downwardly to close said ports and form a sleeve valve, and spring means tending to float said annulus on said mandrel above said ports.

2. A well swab comprising a body having a tubular mandrel portion, an annulus of resilient material slidably mounted on said mandrel portion and floated. thereon, there being'a pressure space between the annulus and mandrel portion communicating with the bore of said mandrel portion and passages in said-body placing the bore of said mandrel in communication with the exterior above said annulus, said mandrel portion having lateral ports at the lower end so located that said annulus is normally floated to uncover and may be moved downwardly to close said ports and form a sleeve valve.

3. A well swab comprising a body having a tubular mandrel portion, an annulus of resilient material mounted on said mandrel portion so as to be slidable longitudinally and rotatably, there being a pressure space between the annulus and mandrel portion communicating with the bore of said mandrel portion and passages in said body placing the bore of said mandrel portion in communication with the exterior above said annulus, said mandrel portion having lateral ports at the lower end so located that said annulus may be moved downwardly to close said ports and form a sleeve valve, and means tending to float said annulus on said mandrel above said ports.

4. A well swab comprising a body having a tubular mandrel portion, a packing an nulus mounted on said mandrel portion so as to be slidable longitudinally, said mandrel portion having lateral ports at the lower end so located that said annulus may be moved downwardly to close said ports and form a sleeve valve, and s rings supporting said annulus on said mant rel portion so as to float it above said'ports.

5. Awell swab comprising a body having a tubular mandrel portion, an annulus of rubber having peripheral facestapering from an intermediate portion toward the ends and provided with a substantially cylindrical bore, said annulus being floated on said tubular portion of said mandrel so as to be rotatably and longitudinally slidable, there being a pressure space between the annulus and mandrel portion communicating with the bore of said mandrel pbrtion and passages in said body placing'the bore of said mandrel portion in communication with the exterior above said annulus, said mandrel portion havin lateral ports at the lower end so locate that said annulus may be downwardly the annulus and mandrel portion communieating with the bore of said mandrel portion and passages in said body placing the bore of said mandrel portion in communication with'the exterior above said annulus, said mandrel portion having lateral ports at one end so located that said annulus and said mandrel portion form a sleeve valve and spring means tending to float said annulus on said mandrel above said ports.

7. A well swab comprising a body having a. tubular mandrel portion, an annulus of rubber having peripheral faces tapering from an intermediate portion toward the ends and provided with a substantially cylindrical bore the pitch of the lower portion of said annulus being less than the pitch of the upper portion, said annulus being floated on the tubular portion of said mandrel so as to be rotatably and longitudinally slidable, therebeing a pressure space be tween the annulusand mandrel portion communicating with the bore of said mandrel and passages placing the bore of said mandrel portion in communication with exterior above said annulus, saidmandrel ortion having lateral ports at the lower en so located that said annulus may be moved downwardly to close the ports and form a sleeve valve'with said mandrel portion.

8. A well swab comprising a body having a tubular mandrel portion, an annulus of rubber having peripheral faces tapering from an intermediate portion toward the ends and provided with a substantially cylindrical bore, and spaced sleeves in the bore of said annulus forming a liner with an intermediate pressure space, said annulus being floated on said mandrel so as to be rotatable and slidable longitudinally there being passages in said body placing the bore of said mandrel portion in communication with said pressure space and passages in said body placing the bore of said mandrel portion in communication with the exterior above the said annulus, said mandrel portion having lateral ports at the lower end so located that said annulus may be moved to close said ports and form a sleeve valve.

9. A well swab comprising a body having a tubular mandrel portion, an annulus of rubber having peripheral faces tapering from an intermediate portion-toward the valve, and spring means "tending to float ends and provided with a cylindrical bore, spaced sleeves in the bore of said annulus forming aliner with an intermediate ressure space, said annulus being floate on said mandrel portion so as to be rotatably and longitudinally'slidable, there being passages in said mandrel portion communicatmg with". the bore'thereof and passages in said body placing the bore of said mandrel 7 portion in communication with the exterior above said annulus, said mandrel portion having lateral ports at the lower end so located' that said annulus may be moved down 1 wardly to close said ports and form a sleeve said annulus on said mandrel portion above said ports.

10.- 'A well swab comprising a body having I a tubular mandrel port-ion, an enlargement on said body at the upper end forming a head, the lower end being of enlarged diameter and forming ahead with an, intermediate cylindrical portion between said heads, an annulus of rubber mounted on said mandrel portion so as to be rotatably, and longitudinally slidable, there being a ressure space between the annulus and man rel portion communicating with the bore of said mandrel portion and assages in said body placing the bore of said mandrel portion in communication with the exterior above said annulus, said mandrel portion having lateral ports at the lower end so located that said annulus may be moved downwardly to close said ports and .form a sleeve valve, a compression spring disposed between the lower head and said annulus to provide sprin means floating said annulus on said mandre above said ports. a i

11. A well swab comprising a body having an enlargement at the upper end forming a head, a lower end of enlarged diameter detachably mounted on said bod whereby to provide an intermediate. cy indrical mandrel ortion, an annulus of rubber having periplieral faces tapering from an intermediate portion towards the ends, said annulus being mounted on the cylindrical portion of said'bod so as to be rotatable and longitudinally s idable; supporting means mounted over the ends of said annulus, there being a pressure space between the annulus and cylindrical portion communicating with the bore of said cylindrical portion and passages in said body placing the bore of said cy indrical portion in communication with the exterior above said annulus, said cylinsaid body between the upper head and the member, a compression upper 'supportin bout the cylindrical portion spring disposed a of said body between the lower head and the lower supporting member so as to float said annulus on said mandrel above said ports.

12. A well swab comprising a body havin an enlargement thereon at the upper en forming a head and a detachable lower end of enlarged diameter providing a head with an intermediate cylindrical portion between said heads, an annulus of rubber having peripheral faces tapering from an intermediate portion towards the ends and provided with a substantially cylindrical bore, the pitch of the face at the upper end being reater than the pitch of the face at the owerv end, supporting means mounted upon the ends of said annulus, spaced sleeves in thebore of said annulus forming a liner with an intermediate pressure space, said annulus being mounted on the cylindrical portion of. said body so as to be rotatably and longitudinally slidable, there bein passages connecting the bore of said cylin' rical portion with said pressure space and passages in said body placing the bore of said cylindrical portion in communication with the exterior above said annulus, said cylindrical portion having lateral ports at the lower ends so located that 'said annulus may be ,moved downwardly to close said ports and form a sleeve valve, a compression spring mounted about said cylindrical portion be tween the upper head and the upper suprti member, a compression spring iibmii d about the cylindrical portion of said body between said lower supporting member, and said lower head there y providin spring means tending to float said ann us on said mandrel portion.

13. A well swab comprising a body having a packing member expansible by fluid pressure from above said'swab, and a tubular mandrel arranged for assa e of fluid therethrough and having atera orts, a sleeve mounted to float on said man rel with said ports normally opened thereby providing a sleeve valve for controlling the passage of fluid through said swab. J

14.A well swab comprising a body having a tubular mandrel portion arranged for the passage of fluid therethrough, a packing member including an annulus of resilient material slidably mounted on said mandrel portion and expansible by fluid pressure from above said swab, there being ports at the lower end of said mandrel portion so located that said packing member may be moved downwardly to close said-ports and form a sleeve valve, said acking member being floated on said man rel portion 50 that said ports are normall open. I

In witness that In aim the fore oin I have hereunto subscribed my name t 's 2 th day of October, 1926. Q s

THEADORE H. WOBERMIN. 

